Baby Megan needs second operation

THE parents of baby Megan Rajah were today (Friday) set to decide if they should spend six months in America looking after their daughter while she undergoes more life-saving treatment following a delicate operation to remove a brain tumour.

THE parents of baby Megan Rajah were today (Friday) set to decide if they should spend six months in America looking after their daughter while she undergoes more life-saving treatment following a delicate operation to remove a brain tumour.

The 22-month-old toddler came round from her operation in New York on December 18 and was able to return home to Sale, near Manchester, in time to celebrate the New Year.

But now parents Julie and Walter Rajah must decide if they should return for more treatment.

"We are now looking into further treatment because the doctor did not get rid of all the tumour," said Julie, a former pupil of Mayfield Infant and Oak Farm secondary schools and of Farnborough Sixth Form College.

Her parents, Doreen and Eric Tomkins, who live in Pierrefondes Avenue, Farnborough, travelled to New York to be with their granddaughter throughout the life-saving operation.

News readers donated more than £6,000 in just a few weeks so that world-renowned surgeon Dr Patrick Kelly could carry out the delicate procedure to remove the tumour from near Megan's brain stem.

Dr Kelly has undertaken more than 6,500 similar operations with a 97 per cent success rate.

But this time he was unable to remove the entire tumour and now it is thought that groundbreaking stem cell therapy followed by chemotherapy or radiotherapy could be used to remove the rest.

"It is very possible we will go back to America because it seems Megan has more of a chance there," said Julie, 26. "They are much more hopeful of success and you've got to go where the hope is.

"We have sent e-mails to doctors worldwide and looked at their advice.

"The hospital in New York has given Megan a 60 to 80 per cent chance of survival. Knowing your child might have a 40 per cent chance of dying is a total nightmare but we at least we have got hope."

Julie said that if they do decide to go back to America the trip and treatment will be paid for from £75,000 held in a special appeal account set up by her former employer Regatta, an outdoor clothing company based in Manchester.

"They have been absolutely fantastic and we cannot thank them enough," she said.

Julie and Walter, 32, have also been offered free use of an apartment in New Jersey by a woman they met whose son was also being treated for a brain tumour.

The couple has been further boosted by news that Walter has been given time off and had his job as a chemical engineer in Warrington left open.

But the best news of all is that Julie is expecting a baby boy in May.

"I had a scan on Monday and everything is fine," said delighted Julie.